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Democrats launch a mad dash to replace Graham Platner by a critical deadline www.nbcnews.com/politics/202...

Democrats launch a mad dash to replace Graham Platner by a critical deadline

Campaign volunteers have literally been taping over old Graham Platner signs to quickly repurpose them for new candidates.

nbcnews.com

BREAKING: In a new video, Graham Platner announces he is suspending his campaign for U.S. Senate, opening the door for Maine Democrats to pick a new candidate to take on incumbent Susan Collins this fall.

NEW: Democratic fighting escalates in Maine as Graham Platner stalls on making a decision www.nbcnews.com/politics/202...

Democratic fighting escalates in Maine as Graham Platner stalls on making a decision

Platner’s campaign and the state party have been publicly sparring, with the campaign denying it’s trying to unduly influence who would replace him as the Senate nominee.

nbcnews.com

The Platner Campaign held an all hands call today and were told the candidate will address his situation later today. It seemed like that meant he would talk to the campaign staff.. not the general public.. but that was not abundantly clear.

The Bernie Sanders aligned political group "Our Revolution" officially backs Troy Jackson to replace Graham Platner in the Maine Senate Race. (Platner has not dropped out yet) Our Revolution ED Joseph Geevarghese says "this is not the Democratic establishment’s opening to handpick a replacement."

It was not easy getting out of the National Mall.. there was a huge bottleneck of people trying to get out through one of a few exits. This particular route was complicated by sprinklers going off, soaking people in tight quarters.

The most impressive thing tonight at the 250 celebration on the National Mall has been the military band. They have been legit bringing it with incredible cover songs throughout the entire fireworks.

Trump begins his speech by saying he was willing to go on at 4am if he needed to. He acknowledges that many people did not stay, but said it was still worth it and is in some ways “more beautiful.”

The America 250 event is back open on the National Mall.. people are making their way back in after being scattered around DC during the passing storm. The President has promised to start speaking at 11p ET with fireworks to follow.

We are getting set for your coverage of America’s 250th Anniversary.. the program on the National Mall begins at 7.. crowds were not allowed in until 5pm because of the hot weather. Now we are bracing for the possibility of thunderstorms. Watch live: nbcnews.com/live

Thanks to everyone for the kind words and feedback around Sunday’s Meet the Press. I am back in the chair for today’s broadcast on NBC News Now, join me at 4p ET at nbcnews.com/now

I am so honored to be filling in for Kristin Welker on Meet the Press today. We talk to Roger Marshall (R-KS) & Chris Murphy (D-CT) and with NY Times reporters Maggie Haberman and Jonathan Swan about their new book “Regime Change”. Tune in on your local NBC station.

Status update on Senate GOP and White House relations: *Zero insight on Iran deal. *Trump puts Clayton Nomination on hold demands SAVE. *Thune says no chance SAVE passes. *Cotton says we are doing Clayton hearing anyway. The relationship is fundamentally broken.

🚨BIG NEWS in Playbook this morning.. the lineup is set for the 2nd RTCA Congressional Karaoke Competition! Get your tickets before they are gone! rtca2026.rsvpify.com

Hello from 30 Rock! We can’t wait for tonight’s NBC News Now Primary Election Special. Join Hallie Jackson, Steve Kornacki, Garrett Haake and me tonight starting at 10p E: WATCH: nbcnews.com/now

Tomorrow night! Join us for special live coverage of the primaries in California, Iowa, Montana , New Jersey, New Mexico and South Dakota. 10p ET on NBC News Now. Stream for free @ nbcnews.com/now

BREAKING: Senate GOP leaders have postponed plans to pass a budget reconciliation package designed to fund ICE & CBP because of concerns around the DOJ weaponization fund. This is remarkable given that the weaponization fund was/is not part of the original bill.

Sen. Thom Tillis test driving a new description for Trump’s weaponization fund. “Payout pot for punks.”

Sabs in 7, pass it on. #LetsGoBuffalo!

Let’s get to a Game 7!

JUST IN: The Senate just approved a resolution that will withhold the pay of all Senators during a government shutdown. This will go into effect immediately on the Senate side. At this point the House has not taken similar action.

Join me today for Meet the Press Now @ 4p ET and Top Story @ 7p ET. Stream for free: nbcnews.com/now

Qu’ils viennent, les Habs ! #LetsGoBuffalo

NEW: Speaker Johnson tells me Congress does not need to weigh in on Iran because “we are not at war.” He said the Administration is working to broker peace and “there is nothing Congress can do to move that along further.”